First Graders Surprised with Bear Buddies

First grade students had a bear-y good morning! Both classes were surprised with stuffed bears to use as reading buddies throughout the school year. 

In coordination with a first grade thematic bear unit and buddy reading activity that takes place throughout the year, each student received a book bin filled with new stories and a stuffed bear to read with throughout the school year. Until this point, students have been paired together to read with buddies. The bears help to encourage solo reading, while still providing a plush “buddy” nearby during their reading journeys. The idea for stuffed bears as buddies stems from the first grade bear unit, during which the classes learn about the outdoors, black, brown, and polar bears, their living environments, and more. Throughout the year, the books within each student’s bin will change, but their bear friend will remain in the bin ready to read alongside them. Students will take the bear home with them at the end of the school year.